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AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Osimhen, Oshoala named African Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023

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  • Asisat Oshoala extends a record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year Award
  • Osimhen wins first CAF African Player of the Year award in the men’s category
  • Morocco and Nigeria win National Team of the Year awards
  • Ellis extends her lead and joined by Regragui as Coach of the Year

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala won the biggest individual awards at the CAF Awards 2023 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday night, 11 December 2023.

Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who made headlines in Italy and also for his contribution in the Super Eagles jersey, won the CAF African Player of the Year for the first time while his compatriot, Oshoala won her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year.

Osimhen’s remarkable journey saw him fend off stiff competition from Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohammed Salah.

Nigerian icon Oshoala secured the CAF Women’s Player of the Year for a record sixth time. The attacker’s dominance continued as she inspired Barcelona to Champions League glory, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 27 goals across all competitions.

Morocco’s Walid Regragui was crowned CAF’s Best Coach of the Year in the Men’s category – recognised for guiding the Atlas Lions to a historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar.

South Africa’s Desiree Ellis secured the Best Coach award in the women’s category for her outstanding work with Banyana Banyana. This was Ellis’ record fourth award in this category, which she has won consistently since 2018.

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In CAF InterClub, South Africa and Al Ahly’s Percy Tau won the CAF InterClub Player of the Year.

Senegal’s Lamine Camara, the 19-year-old FC Metz forward, clinched the CAF Young Player of the Year award, marking his meteoric rise in African football.

Moroccan prodigy Nesryne El Chad won the inaugural CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award.

Morocco won the Men’s National Team award following their performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, while Nigeria won the Women’s National Team of the Year award.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly clinched the Male Club of the Year award, with the women’s award going to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.

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South Africa dominated the continent’s Best XI players in the Women Category while two members of Morocco’s World Cup semi-final team were included in the male version.

The ultimate winners in each category were decided through a voting process involving a panel comprising CAF Technical Committee, Head Coaches, National Team captains and media professionals.

 

Full List of Award Winners:

 

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  • Player of the Year (Men):Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
  • Player of the Year (Women):Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
  • Interclub Player of the Year (Men):Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
  • Interclub Player of the Year (Women):Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
  • Coach of the Year (Men):Walid Regragui (Morocco)
  • Coach of the Year (Women):Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year (Women):Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
  • Young Player of the Year (Men):Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
  • Young Player of the Year (Women):Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
  • National Team of the Year (Men):Morocco
  • National Team of the Year (Women):Nigeria
  • Club of the Year (Men):Al Ahly (Egypt)
  • Club of the Year (Women):Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

 

Men’s Africa XI (As compiled by FIFPRO Africa)

LINE NAME CLUB NATIONALITY
Goalkeeper André Onana Internazionale / Manchester United Cameroon
Defender Achraf Hakimi Paris Saint-Germain Morocco
Defender Chancel Mbemba Olympique Marseille DR Congo
Defender Kalidou Koulibaly Chelsea / Al-Hilal Senegal
Midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa Napoli Cameroon
Midfielder Mohammed Kudus AFC Ajax / West Ham United Ghana
Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat Fiorentina / Manchester United Morocco
Midfielder Thomas Partey Arsenal Ghana
Forward Mohamed Salah Liverpool Egypt
Forward Sadio Mané Bayern Munich / Al-Nassr Senegal
Forward Victor Osimhen Napoli Nigeria

 

 

Women’s Africa XI: (As compiled by FIFPRO Africa)

LINE NAME CLUB NATIONALITY
Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini Mamelodi Sundowns South Africa
Defender Bambani Mbane Mamelodi Sundowns South Africa
Defender Lebohang Ramalepe FC Dinamo Minsk South Africa
Defender Michielle Aloize Houston Dash Nigeria
Defender Osinachi Ohale Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas Nigeria
Midfielder Fatima Tagnaout ASFAR Morocco
Midfielder Linda Matlhalo Glasgow City South Africa
Midfielder Refiloe Jane Sassuolo South Africa
Forward Asisat Oshoala Barcelona Nigeria
Forward Barbra Banda Shanghai Shengli Zambia
Forward Tabitha Chawinga Jianghan University / Paris Saint-Germain Malawi

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Ademola Lookman, Troost-Ekong Nwabali make CAF Awards shortlist

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Three Super Eagles players have made the shortlist for this year’s AF Awards holding in Marrakesh, Morocco in December.

Expectedly, Ademola Lookman is listed among those for the elite award, the African Footballer of the Year. He is joined by Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong.  The revelation came from CAF through their X handle.

There are 10 players on the shortlist and in the next few days, that will be cut by half before the final three.

Listed in the elite category are Amine Gouiri of Algeria, Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire), Chancel Mbemba (Congo), Serhou Guiracy (Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco) and Rowen Williams (South Africa).

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.  He will contest the award with  Morocco’s Yassine Bounou (now in Saudi Arabia), Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, and Senegal’s Djigui Diarra and  Cameroon’s Andre Onana.

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AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Nigerian Breweries raise a toast to Osimhen, Oshoala, and Nnadozie on CAF Awards victories

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Nigerian Breweries Plc, a long-standing pillar of support for Nigerian football, has expressed immense pride and joy in the nation’s historic achievements at the 2023 CAF Awards.

 

The victories of Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, and Super Falcons’ duo of Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, were celebrated by the Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries, Sandra Amachree who stated, “It is incredibly pleasing to see Nigerian football being celebrated in such a positive light.

 

This feat serves as a powerful inspiration and bodes well for the upcoming 2024 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for both men and women in Cote D’Ivoire and Morocco, respectively.”

 

Sandra Amachree further highlighted the significance of these awards, emphasizing their potential to inspire further investment in Nigerian football by Nigerian Breweries.

 

“This success is a testament to the dedication and talent of our players, and it encourages us to continue investing in initiatives that raise the bar for football in Nigeria,” she added.

 

Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait; winning the coveted ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award.

 

The Napoli striker follows in the footsteps of Nigerian legends like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, and Victor Ikpeba

 

For Oshoala, she continued her reign as the queen of African football by securing a record-extending sixth CAF Player of the Year (Women) award.

 

While Nnadozie’s impressive performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was duly acknowledged as she was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) title.

 

The Super Falcons, consistently supported by Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, received their due recognition as they were crowned the Women’s National Team of the Year.

 

Nigerian Breweries, through some of its brands like 33 Export Lager, Star Lager, Life Continental Beer, Amstel Malta Ultra, and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for Nigerian football since February 2018.

 

This commitment extends to both the men’s and women’s teams, as showcased by their continued backing of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons respectively.

 

Osimhen, a past recipient of the 33” Export Lager Man-of-the-Match Award, represents the ongoing commitment of 33 Export Lager and Life Continental Beer to the Super Eagles.

 

Similarly, the Super Falcons have enjoyed unparalleled support from Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, fostering a strong partnership between the brands and the women’s national team.

 

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AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Celebration still on over Nigeria’s impressive performance at CAF Awards as GTI congratulates Osimhen and Super Falcons

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Strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, have congratulated the trio of Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the entire Super Falcons team on their triumphs at the just concluded 2023 CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.

In a press statement made available to journalists in Lagos by GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, the company affirmed that the remarkable achievements of Victor Osimhen, on winning the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year; Asisat Oshoala who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year; Chiamaka Nnadozie, who emerged as Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the Super Falcons as the Women’s National Team of the Year is a confirmation that the country is blessed with abundant talents in sports, especially football.

Reacting to the superlative outings of the Nigerian trio, the Executive Director of GTI, Nelson Ine attributed Nigeria’s continental triumphs at the Awards ceremony to hard work and determination on the part of the players involved.

“GTI is proud to join many stakeholders of Nigerian football in congratulating Nigeria’s sensational striker Victor Osimhen; six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala; inaugural Woman Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

“The triumphant feats by these Nigerians have redoubled the efforts of GTI in seeing that more Osimhens, Oshoalas and Nnadozies are produced through our strategic partnership with the NPFL in the near future.

“We need to rekindle our efforts at sustaining the country’s soccer prowess going forward and GTI is strategically positioned to compliment the efforts of administrators of sports in Nigeria to actualize this great dream since we have enough talents to make our dream come to fruition,” he stated.

Speaking further, Ine said: “The achievements of Osimhen and co will really serve as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers to always give out their best while wearing the green and white jersey of the country. Therefore, we call on the private sector to continue to play a vital role and support the government in its bid to take sports development in the country to a desirable height.”

However, the CAF 2023 Award prize is a recognition of Osimhen’s exploits for his Napoli club side and the Super Eagles where he is a key member. He spearheaded the Italian team’s unprecedented Serie A title run, scoring 26 goals in the league to become the first African to win the Pichichi (top scorer) Award. Napoli last won the Scudetto 33 years ago during the legendary Diego Maradona’s era.

Also, Osimhen’s ranking in the 2023 Ballon d’Or was a testament to his contributions to the Serie A team’s epochal showing. He was ninth, becoming the highest-ranked Nigerian in the history of the award.

Earlier in the month, the Nigerian was crowned as Italian footballers’ association player of the Year, and became the first African to win the AIC Award.

Meanwhile, GTI have felicitated with the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh and the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau on the achievements of these young Nigerians at the just concluded CAF 2023 Awards.

 

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